Women in Energy

Lindsay, Manager, Transmission and Distribution Planning

Career journey and role at Black Hills Energy: I started as a field tech for a facility systems company in Alaska. I got to spend a lot of time in the field working with various contractors and got to participate in all parts of a project. I left that position to be a consultant and then moved to the local utility where I was a planner and then supervised design and construction. At Black Hills Energy, I lead the transmission planning group completing compliance study work and studying potential future projects.

What makes the energy industry and Black Hills Energy ideal for women? Black Hills Energy encourages everyone to pursue their career interests and provides a wide variety of training opportunities. The culture here is very inclusive and supportive of each other. The energy industry is a constantly growing and changing career field so it’s ideal for anyone that loves learning new things daily.

What career advice would you give your younger self? Set short and long term goals. Think about where you want to be in 20 years and start looking for development opportunities now to create the path to that end goal.

Renae, IT Financial Applications Sr Manager

Career journey and role at Black Hills Energy: In my current role with Black Hills Energy, I manage a team of software developers in the IT organization who support and maintain the ERP system and financial applications. Before joining Black Hills Energy, I was in the telecommunications industry focusing on a BSS/OSS software solution.

What makes the energy industry and Black Hills Energy ideal for women? The energy industry, along with any industry, can gain a great deal of benefit by hiring and retaining not only women but also by ensuring they have a diverse work force. Black Hills Energy promotes that diversity and encourages opportunities to learn from each other.

What career advice would you give your younger self? Advice for my younger self would be to explore several different areas during college through internships and mentoring groups to gain as much experience and knowledge prior to graduation to help better prepare you for life in the real world. Never limit yourself and don’t be afraid to take a risk.

Maria, Sustainability and Climate Manager

Career journey and role at Black Hills Energy: My engineering career started in environmental consulting and design, then shifted when I accepted a position as a civil engineer for a construction company. I transitioned back to an environmental focus when I joined Black Hills Energy, where I focus on air quality monitoring, testing and reporting for our generation facilities and gas compressor stations, permitting, and overall environmental stewardship.

What makes the energy industry and Black Hills Energy ideal for women? Black Hills Energy strives to create a positive, dynamic and challenging environment within the energy industry for its employees. Strategic initiatives have been developed to provide resources and support to women within the company, promoting career growth and personal development.

What career advice would you give your younger self? Remain open to new opportunities, even if they take you outside your comfort zone. It’s in these challenges that you will learn your strengths and what skillsets you can enhance and refine.

Nicole, Sr. Community Affairs Manager

Career journey and role at Black Hills Energy: In my role, I work with a variety of community leaders to build partnerships for effective communication and engagement opportunities. Prior to Black Hills Energy, I served as the executive director for the American Red Cross in northeast Iowa, and also worked in higher education fundraising and alumni relations.

What makes the energy industry and Black Hills Energy ideal for women? Black Hills Energy supports my professional development with a variety of learning opportunities and mentorship programs. I enjoy the fast-paced environment and opportunity to collaborate with diverse team members with various backgrounds and skill-sets.

What career advice would you give your younger self? “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.” This famous quote was shared with me by a mentor after being placed in a job I was not excited for. The position ended up widening my skill-set and allowed me to take on new responsibilities that I could not have imagined.

Melinda, Gas Operations Manager

Career journey and role at Black Hills Energy: In my current role I support our Colorado Electric utility, gas-fired and renewable generation facilities as a key regulatory and financial business partner. I manage the preparation, presentation and reporting of information for internal decision-making and regulatory filings. I started my career with Black Hills Energy as a financial analyst in our Corporate FPA group. I seek to achieve in my career journey the opportunities to learn, explore and collect experiences. I aim to broaden my experiences through pursuing different roles over time.

What makes the energy industry and Black Hills Energy ideal for women? The energy industry and Black Hills Energy provide vast opportunities to earn a seat at the table. I appreciate working for a company that values a diverse workforce.

What career advice would you give your younger self? “Run to the Roar” – Paul Assaiante

Jessie, Supervisor Gas Operations

Career journey and role at Black Hills Energy: I began my career in the Call Center taking customer calls for five years, I then moved into a lead representative role still in the Call Center. I progressed to a Central Services trainer for two years. I was promoted to a supervisor in the Call Center and then was transferred as a supervisor to the Field Resource Center for one year. My current role is supervisor in Nebraska Operations and I have been in this role right at 2 years.

What makes the energy industry and Black Hills Energy ideal for women? The Utility industry as a whole seems to be making a shift recognizing that there are women out there who can contribute at all levels! The tremendous ideas and perspectives that women bring are key to building successful teams and thriving companies. One of the great things about the utility industry is there are so many options and opportunities for women to land and make positive impacts.

What career advice would you give your younger self? Always trust your instincts and trust in yourself. Don’t be so afraid to misstep or make the wrong decision. Take some calculated risks without overthinking things. Forgive yourself a bit, because no one expects perfection except you. And stay patient, things don’t happen overnight.